Racial Injustice

The author uses the theme of racial inequality to show how African-American men, women, and youth are generally not afforded the same legal rights, opportunities, and social privileges that are afforded to Caucasian Americans. The social structures that are supposed to protect and nurture development in the United States often exclude those who are most vulnerable, and benefit those already in power. For example, the author demonstrates the ways in which minorities are racially targeted from a very young age, by none other than the authorities who are supposed to be protecting them. In "The City Born Great," a black teen finds himself fearing for his life whenever the NYPD look his way. He feels immense fear and tries to appear boring and unremarkable so they will not notice him. He is afraid to attract any attention for fear that they will take him away...